"Madrid does not envy Europe's musical offer"

[Inkriql]

He says he began to organize concerts "after long conversations in the bars late at night" and "to bring those bands he adored." David Jiménez-Zumalacárregui (Madrid, 48 years old) is one of the most traditional promoters in Madrid. At the head of Heart of Gold, the promoter who celebrates a decade of life, this passionate music "without geographical labels" is behind the soul festivals Black is Black and the Huercasa Country Festival. The concerts that bear his signature are usually those musicians who always love music lovers, even music critics. Dream Syndicate, Eli Paperboy Reed, Quique González or Hoodoo Gurus are some of the latter. After all, the name of its promoter is taken from a Neil Young theme.

To be a music promoter in 2019 is to be a little crazy?
It is a profession of high economic risk and absorbs a lot of time but, of course, if you like music you have no choice. It is a very nice job and that makes me enjoy very good moments and especially the ability to meet a lot of wonderful people, incredible places and groups. I usually erase bitter moments and toxic people quite easily from my brain's hard drive.

What is the most important part of your job?
Respect for the public and artists, being professional, passionate about what you do and for me at least it is very important to work with the artists I like. I find it very difficult to work with artists who are garbage and who act for large corporations that are even more garbage. I've had to do it sometimes to pay the bills and get the bills out, but now I'm at a time when luckily or rightly I don't need to. Believe me I am much happier.

What was your first experience as a promoter?
I wouldn't dare to call him a promoter. It simply helped friends who had groups to set up concerts in Madrid. The first one was in San Mateo Six and I organized it to two great friends who had a garage band called Las Best Tias. Of opening act, a punk pop group from Madrid that responded to the name of Slurp!

Heart of Gold specialized in international music from the beginning. Why?
Since my previous business time with Love To Art, I almost always organized international tours. I guess it's a matter of personal tastes and because my main influences are Anglo. Since childhood I became obsessed with rock and roll in all its aspects and fashions, and so on until today. There are bands here that I like very much, especially New Catholic Catechism, Los Clavos, Los Enemigos, La Granja, but I've always looked out. Maybe Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, The Jam and The Clash are to blame.

How have you seen Madrid evolve in this decade from its promoter perspective?
There are more rooms, many more concerts and more public. Sometimes we tend to miss the past, but the reality is that it has evolved better. There was a time when there was only one room like Revolver and a few clubs with concerts. Yes, it is true that Malasaña was the capital of rock and I miss it. Garitos like Agapo, Flamingo, Malandro, Jam, Clash ... are unrepeatable.

In Madrid there are concerts every week of all kinds of artists. Do you consider it a leading city musically that has nothing to envy to other European capitals?
I think that at the offer level we have nothing to envy, but at the level of quality of the enclosures. The majority of rooms are discos that are not acoustically adequate or at the level of technical production in order to provide good service. Intermediate capacity is missing between 2000 and 3000 people. Not to mention the little respect we have with music at the educational level. It is incredible that a country as musical as Spain systematically abuses music in the educational environment.

What would be the dream musician who would like to put on a concert?
Bruce Springsteen in a small room like El Sol, with the E Street Band playing the Born To Run and The River. That would be pure rock and roll. An utopia perhaps but dreams are lived.